The Canadian HBC Foundation Raises US$1.35 Million to Support Mental Health Partners and Canadian Athletes

TORONTO, Ontario — The Canadian HBC Foundation, the charitable arm of Hudson’s Bay Company in Canada, announced that it has raised $1.35 million for mental health programs and to support Canadian athletes through its 18th Annual HBC Foundation Golf Tournament and Spa. The funds raised are part of the US and Canadian HBC Foundations’ commitment to distribute $6 million (CAD) to mental health initiatives across North America by 2020, and a $2.5 million (CAD) commitment by the Canadian HBC Foundation to the HBC Athlete Bursary program.

“This is our 18th year hosting the golf tournament, and each year I’m inspired by the energy and generosity surrounding the event,” said Richard Baker, HBC Governor and Executive Chairman. “The HBC Foundation has been able to make a meaningful impact and we’re thankful for our partners who continue to support our mission.”

“Mental health continues to be one of the most misunderstood challenges of our time and the effects on communities and high-performance athletes are why we’ve partnered with these important mental health organizations in Canada and continue to support our Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes,” said Helena Foulkes, HBC Chief Executive Officer. “I’m encouraged by the progress made and look forward to continuing our efforts across North America in the years to come.”

This year grants were awarded to two non-profit mental health partners including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada. Together, these grants will reach over 150,000 people across Canada with mental health services and support.

Money raised also helps fund the HBC Athlete Bursary Program, which awards 50 Canadian athletes $10,000 per year to assist with the costs of training and provide mental health support during their journey to the Olympic Games.

The event brought together more than 700 vendors, volunteers, partners, associates and Canadian athletes, including Olympic figure skating champions Kaetlyn Osmond and Gabrielle Daleman and Olympic swimming bronze medallist Kylie Masse.

Since its inception, the HBC Foundation Golf Tournament and Spa has raised more than $12 million for a number of worthwhile charities and causes.

The HBC Foundation thanks and recognizes key members of our vendor community for their significant contributions, including Cadillac Fairview, Capital One, Deloitte, Alix Partners, RBC Capital Markets and Stikeman Elliott.


About the Canadian HBC Foundation
Established in Canada in 2005, the Canadian HBC Foundation is the charitable arm of Hudson’s Bay Company, a diversified global retailer and the oldest company in North America. The foundation is a Canadian registered charity dedicated to making mental health a priority in every community by increasing understanding and improving access to care through the HEADFIRST program.

About HBC
HBC is a diversified retailer focused on driving the performance of high quality stores and their omni channel platforms and unlocking the value of real estate holdings. Founded in 1670, HBC is the oldest company in North America. HBC’s portfolio today includes formats ranging from luxury to premium department stores to off price fashion shopping destinations, with more than 300 stores and about 40,000 employees around the world. HBC’s leading businesses across North America include Saks Fifth Avenue, Hudson’s Bay, Lord + Taylor, and Saks OFF 5TH.

HBC also has significant investments in joint ventures. It has partnered with Simon Property Group Inc. in the HBS Global Properties Joint Venture, which owns properties in the United States. In Canada, it has partnered with RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust in the RioCan-HBC Joint Venture. HBC has partnered with SIGNA Retail Holdings for real estate and retail joint ventures in Europe.

About Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital and one of the world’s leading research centres in its field. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

About Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada is our country’s leading charity dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth growing up in the child welfare system. We raise and grant funds, and deliver a wide range of high-impact programs and services that support more than 24,000 vulnerable young people annually. Stand Up for Kids is our national campaign for child welfare, which aims to change the future of Canada’s most at-risk kids – those who have experienced abuse and neglect. We know that by helping these young people to overcome their trauma and break the cycle for future generations, they gain the strength and resilience to create a lifetime of their own unstoppable successes.

About Canadian Olympic Foundation/Canadian Olympic Committee
The Canadian Olympic Foundation raises philanthropic funds to support the Canadian Olympic team, next generation high-performance athletes, and the Canadian sport system. Pursuing excellence in sport requires long-term vision and funding. Daily training, year-round coaching, proper nutrition, breakthroughs in technology in sport science, national and international competitions, and state-of-the-art equipment are all essential in propelling our athletes to the top of the podium.